Cheryl Cole is the newly appointed event director for the ribbon roping and has been in the association for the last 15 years. She likes the association for camaraderie found at each rodeo. “I really enjoy the people that I have gotten to know. I never got to rodeo much when I was younger and now I am able to go and that has really worked out well.” She is still in the process of finding out what her duties as event director will entail but says, “I have visited with some of the other event directors and I know I’ll need to have ribbons ready and make sure the right calf is in the chute for the competitors and the judges are ready. I’m a little bit nervous about being the director, but we’ll make it work.”
Cheryl and her ribbon roping partner and husband, Dan are tough competitors in the arena and claimed the 2013 Reserve World Champion Ribbon Roping titles for both roper and runner in the 50’s division. Cheryl says that her preparation for making a quick run starts with visualization of what she wants to do. “I try to be pretty close to the chute on the left and help push the calf to the right for Danny. We do a lot of practice at home and that helps so we know what each other is going to do.” She also says that she has a competitive spirit and puts that to work when she walks into the arena.
Besides ribbon roping, Cheryl competes in team roping on the heading side. “I rope a lot at home just to turn steers for Danny, but I do compete in jackpots. Danny competes in the team roping and calf roping in the Senior Pro. He’s been in the Senior Pro Association for about 17 years.”
Starting into rodeo for Cheryl was just a part of growing up in Central Wyoming. “I grew up on a ranch and I ran barrels in high school rodeo. I didn’t start roping until I met Dan. I was a sophomore in high school when we started going together and he got me started roping.” Cheryl says that her biggest influence has been her husband, Dan. “He always been there for me and I doubt that I would rodeo at all if it were not for him. He keeps me going.”
Currently, Cheryl and Dan are spending a couple of months in Arizona and will be competing in the Senior Pro rodeos there before returning to their home near Douglas. The couple has two grown children; a son Shane and a daughter, Haley. “They were both in high school rodeo. Shane rode saddle broncs and Haley goat tied. Haley has a daughter, Alana and Shane has a son, Hunter, 13. Hunter has started team roping.”
During the normal workweek in Wyoming, Cheryl is involved in helping Dan with the oil field reclamation business that they have. “I do all the books for our business and help out Dan in the field when he needs helps. During the winter, the ground is frozen up there, so it’s a great time for us to come to Arizona for a couple of months. We’ll be here for the February rodeos then we’ll head back to Wyoming about the first of March.”
Goals for the future are to, “…do exactly what I’m doing right now. We’re happy doing what we’er doing and really don’t look for any changes.”
